Idaho Territory

The Territory of Idaho was organized in 1863, from that
portion of Washington lying east of the 117th degree of
longitude and west of the Rocky Mountains, but it has
boon abridged by the formation of Montana and Wyoming.
Now the 111th meridian forms the eastern boundary,
running north from the 42nd parallel until it strikes
the Rocky Mountains, where it takes a northwest course
along the summit of that range and of the Bitter Root
Mountains to the 116th meridian, thence north to the
49th parallel of latitude, giving the eastern border a
very irregular outline, and to the Territory as it
appears on the map, the form of a gaiter boot. Idaho is
bounded north by British Columbia and Montana, east by
Montana and Wyoming, south by Utah and Nevada, and west
by Oregon and Washington. The Territory is divided into
ten counties, although not all organized. The counties
are Ada, Alturas, Boise, Idaho, Kootenai, Lemhi, Nez
Perce, Oneida, Owyhee and Shoshone. The principal towns:
Centerville, Florence, Franklin, Idaho City, Lewiston,
Malad City, Placerville, Salmon and Silver City.

In general the surface of the country is mountainous,
the entire region having a high elevation, rising upon
the east to the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and the
west resting upon the plateau of the Columbia. The
Bitter Root, the Blue, and the Salmon Mountains are in
the north, and the Goose Creek and Owyhee ranges in the
south, with buttes and minor ranges irregularly breaking
the country throughout with many valleys of greater or
less extent between. The Pen d'Oreille, or Clark's Fork
of the Columbia, rises in Montana and crosses the
northern part of the Territory and the Snake, the great
southern arm of the same stream rises in Wyoming and
flows through the southern and western portion,
receiving in its course the Owyhee from the south and
the Salmon, Boise, Clearwater and others from the north.

While Idaho is regarded chiefly as a mining Territory,
agriculture and grazing contend for equal rank. Many of
the valleys are fertile and productive, and the hills
are often covered with nutritious grasses. In the
valleys contributory to the Owyhee is much good land,
capable of producing all kinds of cereals, and many
thousand cattle fatten upon the pasturage on the hills.
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